MARCUS HAHNEMANN insists he would relish the extra pressure of being top of the Coca-Cola Championship table.

Reading's American keeper and his team-mates, who are currently second, would be in first place if they beat Watford at Vicarage Road tomorrow (3pm kick off), Wigan fail to win and Stoke don't hammer Burnley.

Hahnemann said: "Going top of the table would be a nice reward.

"There are still more than 30 games to go, but being in the driving seat would be a real boost.

"Being top can bring extra pressure as you are no longer the underdog, but I like pressure. It can be a good thing as it can help you stay focused.

"We have been in this position too often before where we can get ourselves into a great position and then slip up, but hopefully we have learned from it."

As well as the incentive of going top and securing three successive league wins for the first time in more than a year, Royals also have a score to settle with Watford after the Carling Cup defeat in midweek.

They also lost at Vicarage Road on the final day of last season when a play-off spot was still possible.

Royals manager Steve Coppell said: "The last day of the season was bitterly disappointing because whatever the outcome we wanted to go out on a high.

"That is an extra reason why we want to make amends tomorrow. Sometimes you go into a game scratching your head thinking of something that can give you that extra edge, but for this particular match I don't need to say anything."

Coppell is likely to revert back to the side which started the last four league matches so Nicky Forster, James Harper and Nicky Shorey should return.

Glen Little is making excellent progress from a hamstring injury and could travel with the squad.

Hughes, who was subject of sarcastic cheers from Reading supporters on Tuesday, will play on the wing and Coppell added: "I just can't understand the reaction. That should be reserved for someone who is not trying or has given up the ghost and that is one thing you can't accuse Hughesy of."